The Boston Red Sox are in an interesting position.
Entering play on Friday, the club’s 50-45 record has them occupying the third AL wild-card spot, sitting just a half-game back of the Tampa Bay Rays and three games behind the New York Yankees for the second and first spots, respectively.
However, Boston’s seismic trade of third baseman Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants last month means that almost any player should be on the table for the Red Sox by the time the July 31st MLB trade deadline arrives.
That includes closer Aroldis Chapman, who has been a revelation this season with a 1.22 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched, along with 16 saves for Boston.
Signed to a one-year deal last winter, the Red Sox stand to extract a pretty penny for Chapman should they choose to trade him.
Here are three clubs that could pay that price.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers can acquire almost any player they want, but would you believe that they have a 4.44 bullpen ERA in 2025? That’s 24th in baseball, not nearly good enough for a contender to withstand the October grind.
Chapman makes too much sense as a closer upgrade for Los Angeles as they look to defend their World Series title. It’s worth noting that the Dodgers have a strong farm system, which could further entice the Red Sox in a potential deal.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
Arguably the best fit on this list, the Phillies will be forced to play this postseason without flame-throwing southpaw Jose Alvarado, who was suspended for PED usage, should they make it that far.
That makes Chapman an obvious replacement for Alvarado and the Phillies at the trade deadline. Not only would Philadelphia have its left-hander for a playoff run, but they’d also improve upon a dismal 4.39 reliever ERA, which ranks just one spot ahead of the Dodgers in MLB this season.
3. Milwaukee Brewers
This one might surprise folks, but the typically pitching-rich Brew Crew ranks just 18th in MLB in bullpen ERA at 4.02. That’s better than their National League counterparts in Los Angeles and Philadelphia, but an upgrade could nonetheless be valuable.
Beyond closer Trevor Megill (2.41 ERA, 21 saves) and setup man Abner Uribe (2.01 ERA), the late-inning options are thin for Milwaukee. Thus, Chapman could help shorten games even more for a Brewers team that seems to be more reliant on its arms than its lineup.
